§ MR. WILLIAMSONasked Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequor, in view of the very large profit made by the Mint on the coinage of silver during 1881, amounting to £166,823 (after charging £46,000 to the account for loss on old silver coins), Whether he would keep the exceptionally large net gain from the Mint for 1881 in a "Suspense Account," excluding it and subsequent gains from the credit side of the National Finance Accounts until the Government has had time to consider what may fairly be done with these Mintage gains to meet, either wholly or partially, heavy impending losses to the community through the abrasion and deterioration of our gold currency?
THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Mr. GLADSTONE)Sir, I may say it is not a matter at the discretion of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, or the Treasury, it being provided by the existing Act of Parliament, under which the 1612 whole of the expenses of the coinage at the Mint are defrayed from the Consolidated Fund, that the receipts also shall be paid in full into the Exchequer, and carried to the credit of the Consolidated Fund.